Recent content by LBV

Often if the soap dish doesn't drain the bar can turn to mush.

I found that most commercial hand cleaners reacted with my skin. The only product I used was sunlight soap which didn't dry out my hands. I decided to make my own when I discovered that sunlight soap uses palm oil - something I do not ethically agree with. I make my soap out of olive oil, beef...

They went into the fridge as soon as they were made and they were tested the following day. I was aware that water increases the risk of bacteria, hence the fridge and I used bottled distilled water, which I added using a pipette. You could see the stripes where the clays had contact with her skin.

I am making some skin care products and am testing a few clay masks and oils, but am surprised by the reaction that happened. I only made up small quantities and only did small spot tests, for which I am thankful. I used samples of Kaolin, Ghassoul and Dead Sea Mud, singly and in combinations...

Just a small warning. I used peppermint essential oil in one of my soaps. The dishwasher smelt of peppermint for a week.

Yes it was the diluted solution I was referring to.

I am wanting to make liquid soap (potassium based). How much preservative is needed.? I plan on using geography 221 Geogard 221 is typically used at 0.2 to 0.8% in both rinse-off and leave-on product formulations. The higher percent would be used if your product had a high percent of water or...

I'm from NZ and I think many of us struggle to understand how people in other countries can be so selfish, stupid (in some cases). We currently have no community transmission, but all current cases are in quarantine at the border. There have been a few who have escaped quarantine and the public...

I use stainless steel bowls for mixing my lye. I also went and purchased stainless steel jugs for mixing my soaps in. I went for commercial food prep equipment. I am really happy with my purchase. If is easy to pour and work with.

I use only 20% coconut in my bars and the soap is not drying at all. I use beef tallow as well in larger quantity.

Interestingly, the soap is solid, the batch I made just before is still slightly soft. At this stage I can't see any of the lumps so it should be ok. Will cut open a bar to see what it is like inside. Thanks for the help. I will post some photos of what it is like inside when I do it.

Unfortunately, being a brine bar, blending was not an option. Once trace is reached, you have to move fast with brine. I'll see how it goes once it has set. Annoying tho, as ylang ylang is one of the more affordable floral scents. Any other ideas?

Yes liquids were clear, I made sure of that.

Ingredients - oils are olive, beef tallow, coconut, castor. Salt and lye were well dissolved. This is the second batch I made today, although with different scents. The lavender one showed no problem. This happened the moment I added the fragrance.

Was making a batch of brine bars and scented with cedarwood and ylang ylang. As soon as I added the essential oils (at light trace) there appeared white spots. I stirred quickly and poured the first bar (not a success) so I began labelling out the rest. Before I finished pedalling the mix was a...